Right smack in the middle of Singapore is MacRitchie Reservoir Park, a popular green sanctuary and playground for outdoor and nature lovers.
Bordering Singapore’s first reservoir and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the Park, which opened in 1967, has a number of trails including gravel and dirt paths as well as boardwalks, and a floating pontoon for water activities.
The Park was named after James MacRitchie, who was Municipal Engineer of Singapore from 1883 to 1895.
Here are 5 reasons for exploring the Park and enjoying the fresh air while practicing social distancing:
1. See Amazing Forest Canopy Views From TreeTop Walk
A main highlight of the Park, the 250m-long TreeTop Walk is a free-standing suspension bridge which offers a delightful bird’s-eye view of the forest canopy and glimpses of native creatures of the forest such as long-tailed macaques, plantain squirrels, olive-winged bulbul and striped tit-babbler. The first of its kind in Singapore, the suspension bridge is designed for one-way traffic only, so there’s literally no turning back!
The distance to the entrance of the TreeTop Walk is approximately 4.5km (1.5- to 2-hour walk) from the Park and 2.5km (45-minute to 1-hour walk) from the car park at Venus Drive. Depending on your pace and which trail you take, a round trip including the TreeTop Walk is about 7km to 10km (3 to 5 hours).
Be sure to wear the right shoes as the terrain of the trail leading to the TreeTop Walk is undulating with steep slopes at certain points.
OPENING HOURS
• Weekdays: 9am to 5pm
• Weekends & public holidays: 8.30am to 5pm
Closed on Mondays (except public holidays)
Last entry at 4.45pm
2. Go Canoeing Or Kayaking
Rent a canoe or kayak from The Paddle Lodge kiosk close to the Park’s Kayak Platform for a fun aquatic adventure on the Reservoir. Rental fee starts from $12 per hour for a closed-deck kayak and $15 per hour for a single or double sit-on-top kayak to $20 per hour for a single canoe sprint kayak.
OPENING HOURS
9am to 10.30am & 2pm to 4.30pm daily
3. Go On A Hike Or Nature Walk
The Park has trails that vary in length and difficulty, so there’s something for everyone.
Skirting the edge of the Reservoir, the Park’s two boardwalk trails – Prunus-Petai and Chemperai-Jering Trails – are made for easy and relaxing walks, accompanied by scenic views of the Reservoir and dense rainforest. See dragonflies flitting above the waters, spot wildlife such as clouded monitor lizards, common sun skinks, orange-bellied squirrels, banded woodpeckers and long-tailed macaques, and look out for flora such as wild ixora, tembusu flowers, chestnut trees, rubber trees and chemperai trees along the trails.
Hikers looking for a challenge can head for the MacRitchie Nature Trail, an undulating, gravel path through the forest.
4. Enjoy A Picnic Amidst The Greenery
Pack your favourite food and drinks, and find a scenic spot on the grass or a bench for a picnic. Don’t leave your food unattended though, as long-tailed macaques may be lurking nearby.
5. Spot Resident, Rare & Migratory Bird Species At Jelutong Tower
Climb up the seven-deck Jelutong Tower for a captivating 360-degree view of the Reservoir and dense forest. The observation tower is also one of the best places in Singapore to see and photograph birds. So bring along your binoculars to spot birds such as Pacific swallow, Javan myna, Germain’s swiflet, pink-necked green pigeon, rufous woodpecker, blue-winged leafbird, Asian fairy bluebird, long-tailed parakeet and pin-striped tit-babbler, and from time to time, rare species such as Chinese blue flycatcher, black-naped monarch, buff-rumped woodpecker and black-winged flycatcher-shrike.
